Volkswagen creates cage for Discovery's 'Shark Week'

Volkswagen is going to take a big bite out of the 25th anniversary of Shark Week on the Discovery Channel this year.

Instead of the usual jail-like shark cage, VW had a "Volkswagen Beetle Shark Observation Cage" created. It's looks like how it sounds, metal bars looking just like the outline of the new Beetle turned into a shark cage, complete with wheels.

As product plants on reality television goes, this one is about as blatant as it gets. But it's sure to bring smiles, from both viewers and sharks. You can't see it until Shark Week begins Aug. 12.

"Shark Week has a loyal and enthusiastic following of fans, and we're thrilled to partner with Discovery Channel on this 25th anniversary special," said Justin Osborne, general manager for marketing communications at Volkswagen of America.

To play up the connection, VW is offering a custom "Shark Bites" video playlist and timeline photos for its Facebook page.

To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor Brent Jones. For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to letters@usatoday.com. Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to corrections.usatoday.com.

USA TODAY is now using Facebook Comments on our stories and blog posts to provide an enhanced user experience. To post a comment, log into Facebook and then "Add" your comment. To report spam or abuse, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box. To find out more, read the FAQ and Conversation Guidelines.

About Chris Woodyard

Chris Woodyard is an auto writer for USA TODAY who covers all aspects of motoring. He revels in the exhaust note of a Maserati and the sharp creases of a Cadillac CTS. Chris strives to live a Porsche life on a Scion budget. More about Chris